Ōkubo Toshimichi (
Appearance[]
Okubo is a tall man with long brown hair that is brushed to the sides and a strand hanging in the front, thin eyebrows, a large mustache and a spiky beard.
Okubo wears a suit, with a brown jacket and brown pants, a button down white shirt, a black bow tie, and a brown cloak.
Personality[]
Okubo is a serious man that believes in the idea of a country they are trying to build.
Relationships[]
- Kawaji Toshiyoshi: Kawaji is Okubo's loyal follower.
- Himura Kenshin: Okubo is an old comrade of Kenshin's and wished to work along side with him again, to defeat Shishio.
Abilities[]
It is unknown what Okuba capable of, but he was skilled enough to live through the bakumatsu war and even suppress the Satsuma Rebellion.
History[]
Kyoto Arc[]
Okubo is racing towards the Kamiya Dojo, with Kawaji, in a carriage. They manage to reach the dojo in time, and Okubo convinces Saito to stop his fight with Kenshin. Okubo apologizes to Kenshin for using a crude method, to test Kenshin, and asks Kenshin to talk with him. Kenshin agrees, which Okubo says that he has a carriage waiting but Kenshin replies that they can talk with his friends. As Kawaji worries about this, Okubo replies that this is fine and agrees to talk at the dojo.
They start talking, which Okubo gets to the point and tells Kenshin that Shishio is plotting in Kyoto. Kenshin mentions how Shishio has died, but realizes that Shishio was erased when Okubo was erased. Okubo explains why they had to have Shishio erased and what Shishio is up to now. Okubo then asks Kenshin to go back to Kyoto and kill Shishio. As Kenshin's friends proclaim that they won't let Kenshin leave, Okubo decides to leave and return a week later for Kenshin's answer. Okubo then leave with Kawaji.
Sōjirō assassinates Okubo.
On May 14th of 1878, Ōkubo heads towards the Kamiya Dojo and wonders if Kenshin would accept his proposal. Suddenly Sojiro enters the moving carriage and murders Okubo. After some samurai attack the carriage, they find that Okubo has been killed and decide to mutilate his body and proclaim that they have done it.
Development and Reception[]
In history, Ōkubo was one of the five Ishin Shishi - Men of Spirit and the last of the three to have the highest honors in the government. He outlived Katsura Kogorō and Saigō Takamori. He was a leader of the Satsuma clan, who supported the restoration of imperial power. He was responsible for the suppression of the Satsuma rebellion in 1877, led by Ōkubo's university friend, Saigō Takamori. In real life, Ōkubo was murdered by six discontented clansmen on his way to Tokyo on May 14, 1878.
Historic comparisons and Nobuhiko Watsuki made parallels between Ōkubo and 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, for their humanistic deeds during their political service, being well read and educated as well as martially skilled men, and nature of their lives during the 19th Cenutry.
Trivia[]
- He is played by Miyazawa Kazufumi in the live-action sequel of the Rurouni Kenshin movie series.